The NHL Playoffs are upon us! Here’s all you need to know about watching your favourite team in the first round.
Now that the NHL’s regular season has drawn to a close, fans are salivating at the prospect of a new year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Starting on Wednesday, April 12, 16 teams will be taking part in eight playoff series.
This year’s postseason features some very enticing matchups, including teams like the Edmonton Oilers making their return to the playoffs. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are back to defend their 2016 Stanley Cup championship, but they’ll have to get through the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets to do it.
Both sides of the bracket are jam-packed with Cup contenders, as the Chicago Blackhawks look to win yet another title, and teams like the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild remain in search of their first.
This year’s Canadian contingent is much stronger than last year’s, when not a single team from north of the border qualified. This season, teams like the Montreal Canadiens have a legitimate shot at challenging for the Stanley Cup.
Broadcasting for the NHL Playoffs will be split across NBC, NBCSN, USA, and the NHL Network in the United States, and Sportsnet and CBC in Canada.
Here’s the entire first-round TV schedule for the 2017 NHL Playoffs.
(All times EST)
SERIES A – Montreal Canadiens (A1) vs. New York Rangers (W1)
Game 1: April 12 @ Montreal – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 2: April 14 @ Montreal – 7 pm – USA, CBC
Game 3: April 16 @ New York – 7 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 18 @ New York – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
*Game 5: April 20 @ Montreal – TBD
*Game 6: April 22 @ New York – TBD
*Game 7: April 24 @ Montreal – TBD
SERIES B – Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. Boston Bruins (A3)
Game 1: April 12 @ Ottawa – 7 pm – NHL Network, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 15 @ Ottawa – 3 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 17 @ Boston -7 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 19 @ Boston – 7:30 pm – USA, Sportsnet
*Game 5: April 21 @ Ottawa – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Boston – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Ottawa – TBD
SERIES C – Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (W2)
Game 1: April 13 @ Washington – 7 pm – USA, CBC
Game 2: April 15 @ Washington – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 3: April 17 @ Toronto – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 4: April 19 @ Toronto – 7 pm NBCSN, CBC
*Game 5: April 21 @ Washington – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Toronto – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Washington – TBD
SERIES D – Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3)
Game 1: April 12 @ Pittsburgh – 7:30 pm – USA, Sportsnet 360
Game 2: April 14 @ Pittsburgh – 7 pm – NHL Network, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 16 @ Columbus – 6 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet 360
Game 4: April 18 @ Columbus – 7:30 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 20 @ Pittsburgh – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Pittsburgh – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Pittsburgh – TBD
SERIES E – Chicago Blackhawks (C1) vs. Nashville Predators (W2)
Game 1: April 13@ Chicago – 8 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 15 @ Chicago – 8 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 17 @ Nashville – 9:30 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet One
Game 4: April 20 @ Nashville – TBD – Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 22 @ Chicago – TBD
*Game 6: April 24 @ Nashville – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Chicago – TBD
SERIES F – Minnesota Wild (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
Game 1: April 12 @ Minnesota – 9:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
Game 2: April 14 @ Minnesota -8 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
Game 3: April 16 @ St. Louis – 3 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 19 @ St. Louis – 9:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 22 @ Minnesota – TBD
*Game 6: April 24 @ St.Louis – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Minnesota – TBD
SERIES G – Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Calgary Flames (W1)
Game 1: April 13 @ Anaheim – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 2: April 15 @ Anaheim – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 3: April 17 @ Calgary – 10 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 4: April 19 @ Calgary – 10 pm – USA, CBC
*Game 5: April 21 @ Anaheim – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Calgary – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Anaheim – TBD
SERIES H – Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)
Game 1: April 12 @ Edmonton – 10 pm – USA, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 14 @ Edmonton – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 16 @ San Jose – 10 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 18 @ San Jose – 10 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
*Game 5: April 20 @ Edmonton – TBD
*Game 6: April 22 @ San Jose – TBD
*Game 7: April 24 @ Edmonton – TBD
* – if necessary
Next: 5 reasons why the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be amazing
Be sure to stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the latest news, rumors and results.